Wrench



W. C. KRESS April 17, 1934.

WRENCH Filed Sept. 20, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet I April 17, 1934. w, c, Ess 1,954,820

WRENCH Filed Sept. 20. 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR BY 212 ATTORN 5.

Patented Apr. 17, 1934 WRENCH Willard C. Kress, Kenmore, N. Y., assignor to J. H. Williams & 00.,

ration of New York Bufialo, N. Y., a corpo- 7 Application September 20, 1932, Serial No. 633,958

Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in wrenches of a type adapted to be useful under varying conditions of service and in situations in which, due to space limitations, it becomes neces- 5 sary to provide a tool by means of which a nut, bolt or similar work-piece may be rotated to any desired extent as a result of a number of successive applications each requiring an angular movement or throw of the handle of the wrench which is relatively small as compared with the throw of an ordinary wrench.

It is one object of the invention to provide a wrench comprising a handle having an inclined portion at one end and a head swiveled to said inclined portion, whereby any desired degree of rotation of a work-piece may be efiected as a result of a relatively large number of angular swinging movements of the handle of relatively small angular extent, the handle being rotated through angles of approximately 180 about the axis of its swiveled connection with the head between successive swings, and the head being lifted from, and reapplied to, the work-piece be tween alternate swings of the handle.

It is another object of the invention to provide a wrench of the above-described character, the head of which may be readily shifted from the inclined end portion of the handle to the opposite end of the handle, thus producing a wrench or" the ordinary character which may be used when space limitations are not such as to restrict throw.

It is also contemplated that the invention may include means whereby the head may be yieldingly held at some intermediate position along the handle so that parts of the handle may extend beyond the head in opposite directions in positions adapted to be grasped by both hands.

Oth r features of the invention ancillary to those previously described include means whereby the head may be yieldingly held in various angular positions at the inclined end of the handle; means whereby movement of the head off the end of the handle may be prevented; and means whereby the head may be readily moved from a position at one end of the handle to a position intermediate its ends or from an intermediate position to a position at the opposite end of the handle.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating the preferred and various modified forms of the invention,

Figure 1 is a plan view of a wrench embodying the invention with the head indicated in a working position at the inclined end or" the handle.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view through the head and end portion of the handle illustrated in Fig. l, the cutting plane being represented by the line. 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view through the head and handle illustrated in Fig. 1, the cutting plane being taken along the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a plan View of the wrench illustrated in Fig. 1, the head being indicated as having been shifted from the inclined end of the handle to an intermediate position.

Fig. 5 is a similar view of the wrench illustrated in Fig. 1, the head being indicated as having been shifted to the opposite end of the handle.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view illustrating an appli-. cation of the invention to a wrench having an ordinary open head.

Fig. 7 is a similar view illustrating the application of the invention to a wrench having a closed head provided with a hexagonal work-piecereceiving opening.

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the head of the wrench illustrated in Fig. '7, the cutting plane being taken through the head and its connection with the end of the handle.

Fig. 9 is a rear view of the head of the wrench illustrated in Fig. 1 and a crosssectional view of an attached socket provided with a workengaging element of the double-hex type adapted for engagement with a hexagonal work-piece in positions having angular diiierences of 30.

Fig. 10 is a face view of the socket illustrated in Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view through a wrench embodying the invention, having a head swiveled to an inclined end portion of a handle, the connection being such as to prevent endwise movement of the head with respect to the handle.

Fig. 12 is a view, partly indicated in section and partly in elevation, of a wrench embodying the invention in modified form, the head beingi reversible with respect to the handle but not swiveled.

Fig. 13 is a perspective view illustrating an application of the invention to a well-known type of reversible socket wrench.

In Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, the invention is represented as applied to an implementintended for use with any one of a'number of wrench sockets of the general form of the one illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10, which may have workengaging elements differing in size and differing as to the forms of the part intended to engage with a work-piece. Throughout the specification and claims, however, the implement illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5, with or without the socket element, will be referred to as a wrench.

The form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, comprises a wrench handle 20 and a head 21 so connected with the handle that it may be shifted to different positions along its length as indicated in Figs. 4 and 5, or may be rotated to various angular positions when at the end of the handle. The end portion 22 of the handle is inclined at an angle with respect to its longitudinal axis for reasons which will hereinafter be explained.

Any appropriate means may be provided whereby the head 21 may be yieldingly held in any of its various working positions along the handle, or in any of its various angular positions at the inclined end of the handle. In the form of the invention herein disclosed the head is provided with a pair of detents 23, 24, mounted in sockets 25 and provided with springs 26 by means of which the detents may be held in an engaging relation with depressed portions of the handle.

At its inclined end the handle is provided with a groove 27 to receive the detent 23, and a series of angularly-spaced depressions 28, any one of which may receive the detent 24. The annular depression or channel 27 and the detent 23 yieldingly hold the head in its operating position at the end of the handle, but the head may be rotated to any one of three positions having different angular relations with the inclined end of the handle, whereby the inclination of the handle may be Varied.

The surfaces of the depressions 28 may be such as to cam the detent 24 out of its engaging relation with the handle by the application of force, and the surface 29 of the channel 27 may also be flared so as to cam the detent 23 out of its engaging relation with the handle if the head is forcibly moved in an endwise direction. The opposite surface 30 of the channel 27 will preferably be abrupt so as to oppose movement of the detent and prevent the head from being accidentally shifted off the end of the handle. The camming surfaces of the depressions 27 and 28, however, are such that the head may be readily turned from any one of its angular positions with respect to the handle to another, or may be readily shifted in a direction away from the end of the handle from one working position to another.

If desired, the straight end of the handle may be provided with a channel 31 similar to the channel 2'7 in the inclined end, the channel 31 having one flaring wall 32 and one abrupt wall 33 to permit the head to be readily moved to and from a working position at the end of the handle without being accidentally slipped off the end. Since there is no reason for holding the head in different angular positions at the straight end of the handle, no depressions corresponding with the depressions 28 at the inclined end are provided.

At the center of the handle, or at any desired position intermediate its ends, it may be provided with one or more annular grooves or channels 34, 35, to receive the detents 23, 24, when the head is moved toa working position intermediate the ends of the handle. One such channel adapted to receive one of the detents would be sufficient to satisfactorily define a working position of the head, but in the formherein disclosed two such channels are provided, one for each detent. The opposite walls of each of the channels 34, 35 should be inclined so as to be capable of camming the detents out of their engaging relation with the handle when it is desired to move the head from its intermediate working position to its position at one of the ends of the handle.

The handle may, if desired, be knurled or otherwise roughened at the end opposite the inclined portion as at 36 to provide a hand-hold and thereby facilitate the turning of the handle from one to another of its angular working relations with respect to the head when the head is at the inclined end.

Instead of making the head of a form having an integral portion adapted to serve as a wrench socket or other appropriate work-engaging element, the wrench head illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, is provided with an extension 37 of non-circular form adapted to serve as a key or driving connection when inserted in sockets of like form, with which each of a number of workengaging elements may be provided for such purpose.

Obviously the inclined end portion 22 of the handle 20 should be connected with its body portion by easy curves and the opening in the head 21 should be of a size such as to afiord the necessary clearance to permit it to slide freely along the curved portion of the handle in either direction.

In Figs. 9 and 10 is illustrated one form of wrench socket or work-engaging element adapted to be applied to, and driven by, the wrench illus trated in Figs..1 to 5. This work-engaging element 38 has a socket 39 in one face adapted to receive a nut, bolt or other work-piece to be rotated, and a socket 40 in its opposite face adapted to receive the key 37 on the head of the driving implement. The socket 40 should be of the same cross-sectional form as that of the key, and, if desired, the key may be provided with a spring pressed detent comprising a ball 41 and spring 42 confined in a recess 43, the parts being held in their normal positions in recess by peening the material of the key surroundingthe ball in a wellknown manner, as at 44. The socket 40 in the work-engaging element 38 may be provided with a recess 45, into engaging relation with which the ball 41 may be snapped by the spring 42 when the work-piece is applied to the key. The form of the recess 45 is such as to cam the ball 41 out of its engaging relation with the wall of the keyreceiving socket when force is applied to the workpiece in a direction such as to remove it from the key. It will be apparent, therefore, that any one of a number of work-engaging elements having openings of different form or differing in size may be selectively applied to the head of the driving implement.

In the form of work-engaging element illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10 the socket 39 is of the so-called double-hex type having a recess in the form of a twelve-sided polygon comprising two sets of re-entrant angles, six angles in each set, the angles of one set being alternated with those of the other and conforming with the angles of a hexagon. The form of the polygon is clearly in dicated in Fig. 10.

It is well known that the minimum throw of the handle of an ordinary hexagonal wrench of which the working head is open from side to side and. of the same dimension at both faces may be reduced by so relating the positions of the handle and the hexagonal opening in the head that the longitudinal axis of the handle will not coincide with any axis of symmetry of the hexagon. By making the axis of the handle bisect e the angle between two axes of symmetry of the hexagon which are nearest parallel, the throw of the handle may be cut in half if the wrench be inverted between successive working strokes.

The heads of nuts, bolts and other fastening elements to be rotated by wrenches are usually square or hexagonal, or of some other geometrical form which may be defined as being symmetrical with respect to a point. That is, they are in the form of a polygon, an outline of which may be rotated about a central point through an angle of less than 360 to a position in which the outline will coincide in form with the original figure. A hexagon has six such positions of symmetry with respect to a point. The angular distance between one position and the other may, as a matter of convenience, be referred to as the pitch of the hexagon. This pitch is the angular distance through which an ordinary hexagonal wrench would have to be rotated in order to get a new hold on a nut or bolt head and is equal to 60. The hexagon has twelve lines of symmetry, of which any two which are nearest parallel have an angle of divergence of 30. If the handle of the wrench is so positioned that its axis bisects the angle between two such lines of symmetry, in order to make an angle of 15 with one of them, the minimum throw of the wrench may be reduced to 30 if the tool is inverted between strokes. Likewise, a double-hex work-engaging element of the above-described character has twenty-four lines of symmetry and a pitch of 30. It follows that the working throw of a double-hex wrench, if its head is of the form which is open from side to side and of the same dimensions at both faces, may be cut in half by inclining the longitudinal axis of its handle at an angle of 7%" with any one of the axes of symmetry of the head. It is an object of this invention to apply the principle of reducing the throw of a wrench by inclining the axis of its handle with respect to the lines of symmetry of the work-engaging element of the head to wrenches of the type in which the head is not reversible but has a work-receiving recess in one face only.

The longitudinal axis of the handle of the wrench illustrated in Fig. 1 is indicated as being inclined at an angle of l with respect to the axis of the swiveled connection between the head and the handle. This is the most advantageous relation between the handle and the head if the wrench is to be used with double-hex work-engaging elements like those illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10. When provided with such a work-engaging element the wrench might be applied to a workpiece and rotated in a counter-clockwise direction through an angle of 15, after which, without removing the head or work-engaging element from the work, the handle might be rotated through an angle of 180 to a position with respect to the head represented in broken lines in Fig. 1. This would restore the handle to the position from which it started, without changing the position of the work-engaging element and work-piece. The handle would then be free to move through another angle of 15, thus causing the work-piece to be rotated 30 as a result of two swings of the handle of 15 each. This swing of the head through 30 corresponds with the pitch of the double-hex work-receiving element, which may now be removed from the work, reapplied, and the process repeated.

It will be apparent that the use of the swiveled inclined handle would result in a limited reduction of throw necessary to rotate the work-piece even though the angle of inclination of the handle is not such as to bisect two of the least divergent axes of symmetry of the work-engaging element. If, for example, a double-hex head is used and the angle of inclination were 5 instead of l the head might be advanced through anangle equal to its pitch, or 30, as a result of two swings of the handle,one of 20 and a second one of 10, permitted by the rotation of the handle about the axis of its swiveled connection with the head. This would compare with the throw of 30 which would be necessary in the absence of the inclined swiveled handle.

Although under certain conditions any angle of inclination would be to some extent effective, the most advantageous angle of inclination will be dependent upon the pitch of the work-engaging element with which the tool is used. If, for example, an ordinary hexagonal head is used, the most appropriate angle would be 15, that is onefourth its pitch of 60. Were the form of the work-engaging element thatof a pentagon, the most appropriate angle of inclination would be 18, or one-fourth of its pitch of 72.

Ordinarily, little, if any, advantage would result were the angle of inclination of the handle to equal the angle between two of the least divergent axes of symmetry of the work-engaging element, or any multiple of such angle, since, under such conditions, the rotation of the handle about the axis of its swiveled connection with the head would place it in a new position having exactly the same relation with respect to the axes of symmetry of the work-engaging element as it had before such rotation.

For best results the implement illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5, in which the handle has an angle of inclination of l /2, would be used only with work-engaging elements of the double-hexagonal type. An implement intended for use with workengaging elements of the ordinary hexagonal type should have an angle of inclination of 15.

The depression 28 in the inclined end of the handle 20 which permits the head to be held in a position such that its longitudinal axis lies in a plane defined by the axis x, a: of the swiveled connection between the handle and the head of the axis y, 24 (Fig. 3) about which the head is rotated, considered as a Working element, makes it possible to use the wrench when the space within which the handle may be moved in rotating a work-piece is limited by obstructions which might be cleared by a slight upward inclination. Under such circumstances a small degree of rotation might be imparted to a work-piece with the handle in the position indicated in Figs. 1 and 3. The handle might then be shifted to its upwardly-inclined position and the work-piece given a further partial rotation, during which the handle might pass over the obstruction. The handle might then be rotated through a second angle of 90 and a further partial rotation given to the work-piece. By making the best use of the three angular relations between the head and the handle a wrench embodying the invention may be successfully used in situations in which an ordinary wrench would be useless.

The wrench illustrated in Fig. 6 differs from the one illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, in that the work-engaging element 46 is an integral part of the head 21' which is swiveled to the handle 20, the work-engaging element being one of the open type adapted for use in rotating either square or hexagonal work-pieces. The handle of such a wrench would be most effective if inclined Figs. 1 to 8, inclusive, and 11.

with respect to the axis of its swiveled connection with the head at an angle of ,the one most appropriate for use as a means of engagement with hexagonal work-pieces.

The form of the invention illustrated in Fig. '7 differs from that illustrated in Fig. 6 in that the work-engaging element 46 is of the closed hexagonal type, the head 21 and handle and the swiveled connection between the two being the same.

The swiveled connection between the head and the handle of the wrench illustrated in Fig. 7. as clearly shown in cross-section in Fig. 8, differs from the swiveled connection between the head and the handle of the wrench illustrated in Fig. 1 only in that the annular groove or channel 2'7 in the handle, which receives the detent 23, has an abrupt wall on each side since there is no occasion for any relative movement of the head in a direction endwise of the handle and, therefore, no necessity of providing means for camming the detent 23 out of the channel. The detent 24 and depressions 28 may be identical in form with those illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3.

The part of Fig. 8 illustrating details of the swiveled connection between the handle and the head of Fig. 7 is equally illustrative of the like connection between the head and handle of the wrench of Fig. 6.

In Fig. 11 is illustrated a modified form of the invention which diilers from that illustrated in Fig. 1 only in that no provision is made for moving the head lengthwise of the handle. In accordance with this modification the head is prevented from moving in either direction parallel with the axis of the handle by an annular groove or channel 27 identical with that illustrated in Fig. 8, the channel having abrupt walls on both sides, neither of which is capable of having any camming eiiect upon the detent 23. This form of the invention, however, is provided with three depressions 28 in the handle and a detent 24 in the head identical with those illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3, by means of which the head may be yieldingly held in any "one of a number of angular positions with respect to the handle.

As indicated in Fig. 12, the head may be reversibly connected with the handle by means other than the swiveled connection illustrated in In accordance with this modification the invention may comprise a head having an opening 47 of non-circular form which is symmetrical with respect to a point, and the handle 48 may be of like non-circular form .in cross-section, so that the head may be applied to the handle in various angular relations. The handle may be provided with a spring-pressed detent 42 of the ball type similarto the detent 41 illustrated in Fig. 3, the head being provided with recesses 50 so positioned as to receive the ball in the various positions in which the handle is intended to be held in the head. When using a wrench of this form a rotation may first be imparted to the head by an angular swing of the handle, after which the handle may be withdrawn from the head, rotated through an angle of 180, reinserted, and a second rotation imparted to the head by a second swing of the handle.

In Fig. 13 the invention is illustrated as being applied to a well-known form of ratchet wrench of the reversible type having a ratchet element 51, a key or work-engaging element 52 which may be shifted endwise through the ratchet element, and a relatively swiveled head 21 and handle 20' identical with the corresponding elements of the wrench illustrated in Figs. '7 and 3.

,The most efiective angle of inclination for the handle of a wrench like that illustrated in Fig. 13 would be half that of the angular spacing of two successive teeth of the ratchet. When applying the inclined swiveled handle to a ratchet wrench of this character the minimum throw of the handle would equal half that of the ratchet wrench without the swivel. By applying the invention, therefore, to a wrench of this character, it is possible either to reduce the throw or make use of a ratchet having a less number of, and, therefore, larger and stronger, teeth.

When the wrench illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, is to be used in positions in which the space for the operation of the handle is not restricted, the head may be shifted to the knurled end of the handle and used as an ordinary wrench the throw of which must correspond with the pitch of the work-engaging element.

If the space limitations are such as to call for a wrench having a relatively short handle, or if for other reasons it is desired to convert the wrench into a socket wrench of the type having a T handle, the head 21 may be shifted to its position intermediate the ends of the handle.

When assembling the parts of a wrench like that illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, the springs and detents 23, 24 and 26 may first be inserted endwise through the openings 53 in the head and the detents depressed into their sockets 25 by a suitable tool, after which the end 22 of the handle may be inserted in the opening in the head and the tool withdrawn as the end of the handle is advanced. When the handle advances to the position indicated in Fig. 2 the detents snap into the depressions in the handle and hold the parts in their assembled relations.

The invention is not intended to be limited to the forms herein selected for purposes of illustration but should be regarded as including modifications and variations thereof within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:--

1. A wrench comprising a handle having an inclined portion at one end, a head swiveled to the inclined portion of the handle, means constantly effective to oppose movement of the head in an axial direction with respect to the part of the handle to which it is swiveled, and means for yieldingly holding the head in any one of a plurality of well-defined predetermined, operating positions having difierent angular relations with respect to the portion of the handle to which it is swiveled, whereby it may be readily shifted from one of said positions to another, the rotational axis of the head considered as a working element being disposed at an abrupt angle with respect to that of the swiveled connection between the head and the handle.

2. A wrench, as defined by claim 1, of which the positions in which the head may be held by the yieldable holding means include two of which one is disposed at an angle of substantially 180 with respect to the other, the holding means, the inclination of the handle end, and the axis of the swiveled connection between the handle and the head being so related that the handle may be selectively positioned and yieldingly held with its longitudinal axis in substantial coincidence with a plane perpendicular to the rotational axis of the head when considered as a working element and inclined to one side or the other with respect to the axis of the swiveled connection between the head and the handle.

3. A wrench, as defined by claim 1, of which the positions in which the head may be held by the yieldable holding means include two of which one is disposed at an angle of substantially 90 with respect to the other, the holding means, the inclination of the handle end, and the axis of the swiveled connection between the handle and the head being so related that the handle may be selectively positioned and yieldably held with its longitudinal axis substantially coincident with a plane determined by the rotational axis of the head and the axis of its swiveled connection with the handle but inclined with respect to both, or in substantial coincidence with a plane perpendicular to the rotational axis of the head and inclined with respect to the axis of the swiveled connection between the head and the handle.

4. A wrench, as defined by claim 1, of which the positions in which the head may be held by the yieldable holding means include three, one being disposed at an angle of substantially 180 with respect to one of the others, and the third disposed at an angle of substantially 90 with respect to each of the others, the holding means, the inclination of the handle end, and the axis of the swiveled connection between the handle and the head being so related that the handle may be selectively positioned and yieldably held with its longitudinal axis substantially coincident with a plane determined by the rotational axis of the head and the axis of its swiveled connection with the handle but inclined with respect to both, or in substantial coincidence with a plane perpendicular to the rotational axis of the head and in clined to one side or the other with respect to the axis of the swiveled connection between the head and the handle.

5. A wrench, as defined by claim 1, of which the means for yieldingly holding the head in any one of a plurality of operating positions with respect to the handle comprises a spring-pressed detent in the head and a plurality of angularly-spaced depressions in the handle so positioned as to cause the detent to be thrust into an engaging relation with a depressed portion whenever the head is moved to one of its operating positions.

6. A wrench, as defined by claim 1, of which the means for opposing axial movement of the head and for yieldingly holding the head in any one of a plurality of operating positions with respect to the handle comprises a pair of spring pressed detents in the head, an annular channel in the surface portion of the handle so positioned as to cause one of the detents to be thrust into an engaging relation with the channeled portion of the handle and hold the head in a definite working position lengthwise of the handle and a plurality of angularly-spaced depressions in the handle so positioned as to cause the other detent to be thrust into an engaging relation with a depressed portion whenever the head is turned to one or" its diiferent angularly-disposed operating relations with respect to the handle.

7. A wrench comprising a handle having an inclined portion at one end, a head slidable lengthwise with respect to said handle and having a swiveled connection with its inclined portion, means for yieldingly holding the head in operating positions at various locations along the handle including its inclined end portion, and means for yieldingly holding the head in any one of a plurality of well-defined, predetermined, angular positions with respect to the inclined portion of the handle, the head being readily shifted from any one of its working positions to another to adapt 1 5 the wrench for different conditions of service.

8. A wrench, as defined by claim 7, of which the end of the handle opposite its inclined end is straight, and of which one of the operating positions of the head is at the straight end of the 110 handle.

9. A wrench, as defined by claim '7, of which one of the operating positions of the head is at a location intermediate its ends.

10. A wrench, as defined by claim 1, of which 115 the swiveled connection between the head and the handle includes means for preventing the movement of the head lengthwise along the handle in either direction.

WILLARD C. KRESS. 

